California Sign Contractors & Illegal Activity

[Erik Sine]

CONTRACTORS LICENSE

Some interesting news for Californians directly from the CA License Board in the form of a newsletter and more reassurance to what I've been explaining on illegal activity, or illegal execution of contracts and illegal hiring of subcontractors.

It was discussed some time ago (many times) about illegal subcontracting and I was trying to find the thread by someone from the California Sign Association who said it was okay for any lesser status sign contractors to upsell or up subcontract electrical work which is above their status because they were already a contractor. There was a brief debate because I knew it was still illegal.

Anyhow, in California we have three types of sign contractors

C-45 (illuminated & non)

C-61 (Non-Electric)

D-42 (Non-Electric)

The CSLB has received numerous complaints of the C61 & D42 license carriers of executing and subcontracting out electrical signs, they go in to verify that this is illegal activity.

"...Consequently, a C-61 / D-42 is NOT permitted to contract for the construction or installation of ANY sign with electrical components, REGARDLESS of who makes the electrical connection.

When presented with a sign installation that includes work, the C-61/D-42 contractor must work within their license....."

It appears this statement takes it even a step further. If I'm reading this right unlicensed C-45 shops can't even build a sign, and sell it to a consumer. I wonder if that is right.

But back to my original point, contractors of a lesser status cannot "subcontract" to a contractor of a higher status even though they themselves are a licensed contractor.

ADVERTISING

A new law Senate Bill 315 is giving more whip cracking power to the CSLB for anyone unlicensed contracting work over in combo of labor & materials of $500. It goes into to say their starting to crack down on Craigs List and other online bulletin ads.

The new law also gives them the power to issue "Notices to Appear in Court"

SOLAR

This is just the beginning but glad to see it surface here in from the CSLB, but the contractors board has been getting more complaints on the over hype of solar power sales, false marketing, deceptive practices,and false return on investment claims resulting in "under-delivering".

Sounds familiar with our own industry, maybe this should be raised with them as well.

Something to chew on over for #TBT